Come To The Fountain, Finding Contentment.

Come To the Fountain, Finding Contentment. Jeremiah 2:11-13NASB

Professional golfer Paul Azinger was diagnosed with cancer at age 33. He had just won a PGA championship and had ten tournament victories to his credit. He wrote, "A genuine feeling of fear came over me. I could die from cancer. Then another reality hit me even harder. I’m going to die eventually anyway, whether from cancer or something else. It’s just a question of when. Everything I had accomplished in golf became meaningless to me. All I wanted to do was live." Then he remembered something that Larry Moody, who teaches a Bible study on the tour, had said to him. "Zinger, we’re not in the land of the living going to the land of the dying. We’re in the land of the dying trying to get to the land of the living." Azinger recovered from chemotherapy and returned to the PGA tour.

“Has a nation changed gods when they were not gods? But My people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. 12 “Be appalled, O heavens, at this, And shudder, be very desolate,” declares the Lord. 13

“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns That can hold no water.

Leaders who didn’t really know the Lord were setting idolatrous pattern for others (Hosea 4:6)

Two evils, first, Israel abandoned the Lord, their only source of spiritual sustenance.

Secondly, Israel turned to idolatrous objects of trust.

Jeremiah compared these with underground water storage devices for rainwater, which were broken and let water seep out, thus proving them useless.

Does anybody know what an artesian well is? It’s a source of water that literally shoots up out of the ground without any need for pumps or any artificial assistance. It’s literally “living water.” (A promise to every believer.)

Paul spoke of this in the NT, Philippians 4:12-13TM Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.

Paul is saying, “Christians can live content regardless of their circumstances.”

Listen to Paul in Philippians 4:1-5NKJ Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. 2 I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life. 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

These two women were prominent church member, who were some of the first people meeting for prayer when Paul came to Philippi.

Paul’s saying, 1. Stay steed-fast. 2. Be in the same mind in the Lord. 3. Help others. 4. Always rejoice in the Lord. 5. Be content.

Going back to the text, Jeremiah gives God’s people three things that constantly feed discontentment.

First thing that will constantly feed our discontentment, Greed.

“When you dwell on what you don’t obtain, you’ll not enjoy what God has already given you.” P.H.

Be Satisfied! Proverbs 29:18NKJ Where there is no revelation, (prophetic vision) the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.

Vision is important; however, enjoy the journey; Rejoice in the Lord on the way!

Second thing that will constantly feed our discontentment is, fear.

“Fear wants you to run from something that’s not chasing you.” P.H.

It’s the enemies way of

1). Robbing you of peace and stability.

2). Tormenting you with the what if’s”.

3. Keeping you from trusting God.

Psalm 56:4NLT I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?

The third thing that will constantly feed our discontentment, Seeking satisfaction in the wrong places.

Listen to another scripture reference in Haggai 1:5-7NKJ Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! 6 “You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.” 7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!

God saying, “My people have forsaking the living water, and dug water holes that cannot hold water.”